Richest and poorest places in the Chicago area
With nearly 10 million people in the Chicago metro area, the economic realities facing residents can vary drastically from place to place.
To help understand differences in income levels throughout the Chicago area, Stacker analyzed data from the most recent American Community Survey from the U.S. Census. The research team looked at the 88 Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) that encompass the Chicago Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) to identify the 15 places with the lowest and highest median income per capita. PUMAs are defined as statistical geographic areas with populations of over 100,000.
For each area, Stacker has included supporting data around the population, unemployment rates, and median rental rates to help understand the economic hardships or good fortunes within these communities.
#15 poorest: Jackson, Williamson, Franklin, and Perry Counties
- Median income: $24,885
- Total population: 186,943
- Unemployment rate: 8%
- One-bedroom median gross rent: $492
#14 poorest: Clark, Jasper, Crawford, Lawrence, Richland, Clay, and Wayne Counties
- Median income: $24,837
- Total population: 105,503
- Unemployment rate: 5.2%
- One-bedroom median gross rent: $376
#13 poorest: Douglas, Edgar, Coles, and Cumberland Counties
- Median income: $24,756
- Total population: 101,478
- Unemployment rate: 4.5%
- One-bedroom median gross rent: $478
#12 poorest: Winnebago County (Southeast and West)—Rockford
- Median income: $24,446
- Total population: 197,379
- Unemployment rate: 10%
- One-bedroom median gross rent: $555
#11 poorest: St. Clair County (Northwest, Southwest, and Southeast)
- Median income: $24,128
- Total population: 115,618
- Unemployment rate: 7.8%
- One-bedroom median gross rent: $427
#10 poorest: Lake County (Northeast)—Waukegan, Zion, Benton, and Newport Townships
- Median income: $24,049
- Total population: 135,786
- Unemployment rate: 7.9%
- One-bedroom median gross rent: $707
#9 poorest: Cook County (Southeast)—Thornton Township
- Median income: $23,669
- Total population: 167,812
- Unemployment rate: 15.7%
- One-bedroom median gross rent: $724
#8 poorest: Chicago (West)—Austin, Belmont Cragin, and Montclare
- Median income: $23,273
- Total population: 180,744
- Unemployment rate: 9.8%
- One-bedroom median gross rent: $749
#7 poorest: South and Southeast Illinois
- Median income: $22,915
- Total population: 135,138
- Unemployment rate: 8%
- One-bedroom median gross rent: $394
#6 poorest: Chicago City (South)—South Shore, Hyde Park, Woodlawn, Grand Boulevard, and Douglas
- Median income: $22,265
- Total population: 179,090
- Unemployment rate: 11.7%
- One-bedroom median gross rent: $818
#5 poorest: Chicago (Southwest)—Brighton Park, New City, Bridgeport, and McKinley Park
- Median income: $21,413
- Total population: 162,347
- Unemployment rate: 11.3%
- One-bedroom median gross rent: $596
#4 poorest: Chicago (South)—South Chicago, Pullman, West Pullman, East Side, and South Deering
- Median income: $21,228
- Total population: 131,070
- Unemployment rate: 17%
- One-bedroom median gross rent: $576
#3 poorest: Chicago (South)—Auburn Gresham, Roseland, Chatham, Avalon Park, and Burnside
- Median income: $21,175
- Total population: 129,529
- Unemployment rate: 18.6%
- One-bedroom median gross rent: $676
#2 poorest: Chicago City (West)—North and South Lawndale, Humboldt Park, and East and West Garfield Park
- Median income: $19,522
- Total population: 209,402
- Unemployment rate: 11.2%
- One-bedroom median gross rent: $606
#1 poorest: Chicago (South)—Chicago Lawn, Englewood/West Englewood, and Greater Grand Crossing
- Median income: $18,296
- Total population: 137,667
- Unemployment rate: 20.6%
- One-bedroom median gross rent: $671
#15 richest: Cook County (Northwest)—Schaumburg Township (South and Central)
- Median income: $39,077
- Total population: 113,148
- Unemployment rate: 3.3%
- One-bedroom median gross rent: $1,165
#14 richest: DuPage County (East Central)—York Township
- Median income: $39,875
- Total population: 125,767
- Unemployment rate: 3.4%
- One-bedroom median gross rent: $1,112
#13 richest: Will County (Northwest)—DuPage and Wheatland Townships
- Median income: $40,290
- Total population: 173,381
- Unemployment rate: 5.4%
- One-bedroom median gross rent: $938
#12 richest: DuPage County (Southeast)—Downers Grove Township
- Median income: $41,725
- Total population: 148,563
- Unemployment rate: 2.5%
- One-bedroom median gross rent: $989
#11 richest: DuPage County (Southwest)—Naperville and Winfield (South) Townships
- Median income: $41,874
- Total population: 120,066
- Unemployment rate: 4.6%
- One-bedroom median gross rent: $1,191
#10 richest: Cook County (Northwest)—Palatine and Barrington Townships
- Median income: $41,898
- Total population: 130,693
- Unemployment rate: 2.9%
- One-bedroom median gross rent: $985
#9 richest: Lake County (Southwest)—Ela, Freemont, Wauconda, and Cuba Townships
- Median income: $41,928
- Total population: 119,799
- Unemployment rate: 4%
- One-bedroom median gross rent: $956
#8 richest: Kane County (West)
- Median income: $42,334
- Total population: 122,095
- Unemployment rate: 5.3%
- One-bedroom median gross rent: $678
#7 richest: DuPage County (South Central)—Lisle Township
- Median income: $44,075
- Total population: 119,633
- Unemployment rate: 3.9%
- One-bedroom median gross rent: $1,113
#6 richest: Chicago (West)—West Town, Near West Side, and Lower West Side
- Median income: $46,040
- Total population: 173,195
- Unemployment rate: 4.6%
- One-bedroom median gross rent: $1,390
#5 richest: Will County (Northeast)—Frankfort, Homer, and New Lenox (North) Townships
- Median income: $46,066
- Total population: 126,326
- Unemployment rate: 2.6%
- One-bedroom median gross rent: $902
#4 richest: Lake County—Vernon, Moraine, West Deerfield, and Libertyville (Southeast) Townships
- Median income: $50,043
- Total population: 135,337
- Unemployment rate: 4.1%
- One-bedroom median gross rent: $1,256
#3 richest: Cook County (Northeast)—Northfield and New Trier Townships
- Median income: $53,000
- Total population: 143,738
- Unemployment rate: 3.3%
- One-bedroom median gross rent: $1,266
#2 richest: Chicago (North)—Lake View and Lincoln Park
- Median income: $54,744
- Total population: 160,866
- Unemployment rate: 2.3%
- One-bedroom median gross rent: $1,379
#1 richest: Chicago (Central)—Near North Side, Loop, and Near South Side
- Median income: $67,809
- Total population: 145,782
- Unemployment rate: 2.6%
- One-bedroom median gross rent: $1,815
